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How Alex Beat the Odds: A Journey to Six-Figure Success

In this article
  1. Challenges and Turning Points
  2. Key Strategy and Approach
  3. Risk Management and Consistency
  4. Advice to Aspiring Traders
  5. Conclusion

Alex, a trader from the United States, recently passed the CTI evaluation and is now a portfolio manager. Starting his trading journey in 2016, Alex initially traded stocks before being introduced to Forex by his mentor, Ken. Over the years, Alex has become an educator, helping traders develop their strategies, mindset, and approach to passing funding evaluations. Alongside his trading career, he is also a full-time nursing student, balancing his studies with his passion for trading.https://youtu.be/5WB1xv4mMCI

FieldDetails
ProgramCTI Evaluation
ResultPASSED ✅
Win Rate61%
Profit Factor1.93 (Strong performance)
Risk Per Trade0.125% – 0.25% (Ultra-conservative approach)
Drawdown ControlBelow 4% (Relative)
Asset FocusYen (JPY) Pairs & Fundamentals
Trading RoutineWeekend Analysis (to ensure objective execution)
ExperienceTrading since 2016
Validation✅ Validated by CTI Risk Team

Challenges and Turning Points

Alex’s early trading years were marked by struggles, including overtrading and failing to follow a disciplined trading plan. These challenges led to blown accounts and inconsistent results. The turning point came when Alex developed a structured trading plan with clearly defined goals. He learned to embrace trading as a marathon, focusing on small, consistent gains rather than chasing large, risky profits.

Key Strategy and Approach

Alex specializes in swing trading on higher time frames (weekly, daily, four-hour charts) and focuses on risk management by keeping his risk per trade between 0.125% and 0.25%. He prepares meticulously over the weekends when the market is closed, allowing him to analyze without the pressure of impulsive trading. This disciplined approach has enabled Alex to consistently achieve his monthly target of 5%, which he sets as his goal before stepping away from the markets.

Risk Management and Consistency

Alex’s success is built on his conservative risk management and strict adherence to his trade plan. During his CTI evaluation, he managed to keep his relative drawdown below 4% while achieving the 7% profit target, demonstrating strong discipline and risk control. He attributes his success to preparation, patience, and the ability to stay focused on his strategy, even during challenging periods.

Advice to Aspiring Traders

Alex advises traders to not rush the process and avoid jumping between strategies. He emphasizes the importance of committing to one approach, mastering it, and maintaining realistic expectations about the time and effort required to succeed. Alex believes that consistency and a disciplined mindset are the keys to achieving long-term success in trading.

Conclusion

Alex’s journey highlights the importance of a structured approach, disciplined risk management, and a focus on consistent execution. His story serves as an inspiration for traders who are navigating their own challenges. Now, as a CTI portfolio manager, Alex looks forward to scaling his success and continuing his journey towards becoming a professional trader.

Scott Geekie
Scott Geekie
Chief Marketing Officer | CMO
8+ years prop trading industry experience.

Scott Geekie is CTI’s Chief Marketing Officer, focused on growth and retention in prop trading. He has spent 8+ years inside the model — progressing from trader to intern, client relations, marketing manager and now CMO, a path that spans the full trader lifecycle: who a firm attracts, how traders behave once funded, and what actually drives long-term retention rather than short-term spikes. That perspective shapes how CTI grows: deliberate about who it brings in, attentive to behaviour beyond conversion metrics, and mindful that in this model small changes compound quickly. Scott is Certified in Content Marketing, SEO and AEO, and is the author of ‘The Trader in the Chair: A Story for Anyone Who’s Bled Quietly at the Charts.’